Construction starts on 17 Talus townhouses

Talus developer Intracorp is building 17 townhouses in the 630-acre urban village on Cougar Mountain.

Construction is under way in the Centerra at Talus neighborhood and Intracorp expects sales on the three-level units to start soon.

“These homes are being built for the homeowner who wants to live in a community that offers easy access to the vibrancy of urban living and the serenity of the outdoors,” Jeff Smallwood, Intracorp vice president of marketing and sales, said in a news release. “There’s no better value in today’s residential marketplace.”

The project includes environmentally sound materials and home-building practices.

“This Centerra at Talus project will provide a number of full-time jobs for construction workers, and help to boost the local economy — which is something that we’re very proud of given today’s economic climate,” Smallwood said.

Keith Niven, city Major Development Review Team program manager, said a retail component for the neighborhood is also part of the discussion.

Talus does not receive the same scrutiny as the Issaquah Highlands, the other urban village in the city. Discussions about retail development dominate decisions related to the highlands. Talus is designed as a more residential neighborhood than the highlands.

Intracorp received plaudits from local environmentalists a decade ago for setting aside more than 400 acres as open space. The tract connects to Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, a 3,115-acre expanse across the forested mountain.